The Monster Kisser

Kabanata 19 (I didn't meant that)

Anselmo

Pumunta nga silang lahat sa bodega and there they found Tartini squirmimg like a child in a small carton box. He approach her.

"Tini-" mahinang tawag niya rito.

"Oh my God! A ghost! Don't hurt me, I might be a baddie but still I'm not delicious!" tili nito habang nakapikit.

"Why don't you open your eyes?"

"Oh damn, the ghost is talking to me?"

"Tartini, its me Anselmo."

"I'm not going to believe you. I can see it, you are just pretending to be him."

"Nababaliw ka na ba? I'm tired of looking for you all night, stop being silly."

She open her eyes and look grimace.

"What is that face?"

"Beauty" ingos nito.

"Bumangon ka na dyan, marami tayong gagawin. Nakuha mo pa talagang magpahanap, if you're the person na ayaw pagsabihan you won't change. You will always be the same."

Tumikhim si Aling Lagring.

"Sorry Aling Lagring, hindi ko lang talaga maiwasan. Tini, I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. It's your fault, you shouldn't did that. And stop treating other people they are below you. Alalahanin mo wala ka ng pera ngayon we are on the same status here. It's not hurt to be kind."

"I know that's why I'm sorry Aling Lagring for being bitchy yesterday. From now, I won't be degrading anyone. You will forgive me right, Aling Lagring? Pero if hindi niyo naman ako mapapatawad pa, I'll understand."

"Wala na ho iyon sa akin Ma'am Tini."

"Tini na lang po, like Anselmo said pare-pareho na tayo rito. I'm poor now so I don't have to be called maam."

"Pati pakibawasan na rin ang kaartehan" aniya.

"Syempre inaayon ko lang ang kaartehan ko sa ganda ko."

"Sana pala hindi ka na namin hinanap. Halina ho kayo Aling Lagring. By the way, pulutin mo iyang mga balat ng pinagkainan mo nagkalat ka pa talaga rito sa bodega."

Binato siya nito ng karton.

"Devil" bulong nito.

Hindi niya na lang pinansin ang sinabi nito.

"And it's okay if you don't like me, I'm not going to like you either" dagdag pa nito.

So she was bothered by that. Nilingon niya ito.

"What?" she scowled.

"I didn't meant that."

"So you like me?"

Ngumiti lang siya saka ito tinalikuran.

"What was that? Aling Lagring did he like me or not?"

"Hindi ko rin alam, Tini" saad ng ginang.

"Anselmo! Hoy lamok!" sigaw nito.

But he didn't stop. Nang makarating sila sa bahay ay nilapitan siya nito.

"Anselmo, magkakilala pala kayo ni Phoebe?"

He smiled.

"Why are you smiling? Answer me."

"Hindi mo naman kailangan magselos. Ito naman dahil lang sa sinabi ko kanina umaasta ka ng girlfriend ko ah."

"Nagtatanong lang ako, kung ayaw mo naman sagutin eh 'di huwag. At hindi ako nagseselos, so delusional."

"Okay, deny it all you want."

"Augh! Why are you like this? Nababaliw ka na ba? I won't like you, you are manipulative, evil, scum-"

"But you kiss me back."

Nag-init ang pisngi nito at mabilis na tinakpan ang bibig niya. Napalingon pa ito sa paligid.

"If you're not going to shut up, I'll kill you."

Dali-dali itong pumasok sa kwarto nito saka binagsakan siya ng pinto.

"Masisira mo ang pinto!" sigaw niya rito.

Kinurot siya ni Aling Lagring sa tagiliran.

"Sir Ansel, tinukso mo na naman si Tartini. Baka maglayas 'yan baka hindi ka na naman makatulog sa paghahanap" tukso ng ginang.

"Aling Lagring talaga, syempre hinanap ko kasi nga nawawala. Iniisip ko lang ang sasabihin ni Mr. Barry."

"Ay nako tigilan mo ako Anselmo dumaan din ako sa ganyan. Hindi ka magiging ganoon kaaligaga kagabi kung hindi ka nag-aalala sa kanya. Mahal mo sa Tini ano?"

"It didn't change, Aling Lagring."

"Ha? Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?"

Mapait siyang ngumiti.

"Magpapahinga na ho ako. Gisingin niyo na lang ho ako kapag dumating na si Phoebe."

"Sige ho sir."

If something happen to Tartini he will be the next to worry about her aside from Mr. Barry. Damn it Tini, when are you going to remember me?